GIS-based weights-of-evidence modelling of rainfall-induced landslides in small catchments for landslide susceptibility mapping

Landslide susceptibility mapping is a vital tool for disaster management and planning development activities in mountainous terrains of tropical and subtropical environments. In this paper, the weights-of-evidence modelling was applied, within a geographical information system (GIS), to derive landslide susceptibility map of two small catchments of Shikoku, Japan. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the importance of weights-of-evidence modelling in the generation of landslide susceptibility maps in relatively small catchments having an area less than 4 sq km. For the study area in Moriyuki and Monnyu catchments, northeast Shikoku Island in west Japan, a data set was generated at scale 1:5,000. Relevant thematic maps representing various factors (e.g. slope, aspect, relief, flow accumulation, soil depth, soil type, land use and distance to road) that are related to landslide activity were generated using field data and GIS techniques. Both catchments have homogeneous geology and only consist of Cretaceous granitic rock. Thus, bedrock geology was not considered in data layering during GIS analysis. Success rates were also estimated to evaluate the accuracy of landslide susceptibility maps and the weights-of-evidence modelling was found useful in landslide susceptibility mapping of small catchments.     

Influence of Gassing Agent and Density on Detonation Velocity of Bulk Emulsion Explosives

The demand for coal from surface mining projects are on the higher side like never before for which blasting is the basic unit operation. The explosive plays an important role in blasting and also influence the explosive-rock interaction. The most common explosive type used in surface mines is emulsion explosives. This paper presents the study on the detonation velocity of bulk emulsion explosives due to variation in gassing agent and density. In this study Sodium Nitrite (NaNO₂) has been used as the gas generating additive and the performance of emulsion explosives with different concentrations of gassing agents at different temperatures has been observed. This study was undertaken to also understand the cyclic variation of temperature on gassing kinetics and performance of explosive. The effect of cooling on detonic-behaviour of bulk emulsion explosives has also been studied and presented in this paper.     

Estimating snow distribution over a large area and its application for water resources

The spatial and temporal distribution of the snow water equivalent (SWE), snow density and snow depth were estimated by a method combining remote sensing technology and degree‐day techniques over a study area of 370 000 km². The advantages of this simulation model are its simplicity and the availability of degree‐day parameters, which can be successively evaluated by referring to snow area maps created from satellite images. This simulation worked very well for estimating SWE and helped to separate the areas of thin snow cover from heavier snowfall. However, shallow snow in warm regions led to some misjudgments in the snow area maps because of the time lag between when the satellite image was acquired and the simulation itself. Vulnerable areas, where a large variation in the amount of snow affects people's life, could be identified from the differences between heavy and light snow years. This vulnerability stems from a predicted lack of irrigation water for rice production caused by future climate change. The model developed in this study has the potential to contribute to water management activities and decision‐making processes when considering necessary adaptations to future climate change. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temporal variations in Sr and 87Sr/86Sr of the Ganga headwaters: estimates of dissolved Sr flux to the mainstream

The headwaters of the Ganga (the Alaknanda, Bhagirathi and the Ganga) were analysed for their dissolved major ions, Sr and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr on a biweekly to monthly basis over a period of one year to determine their temporal variations and the factors contributing to them. The concentrations of major ions and Sr show significant seasonal variation with lower values during monsoon period in all the three rivers. A similar trend is also observed for ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and Na*/Ca (Na* = Na_r? Cl_r) suggesting relatively lower contribution of Sr and Na from silicates (which are more radiogenic in Sr) during monsoon. Budget calculations show that silicate derived dissolved Sr (Sr_s) in the river Ganga, Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi varied from 10 ± 4 to 27 ± 11, 7 ± 3 to 30 ± 12, 16 ± 6 to 57 ± 23% of measured Sr respectively with lower values during monsoon. The relative decrease in silicate erosion compared to carbonate during monsoon can result from several factors, these include higher dissolution kinetics of the carbonates, lower water–rock interaction time and availability of larger area for weathering. The annual discharge weighted Sr flux derived from the time series data is higher by ～20% from that based on peak flow Sr, and lower by ～40% compared to that derived from lean flow Sr concentration. The area‐normalized annual flux of dissolved Sr from the Ganga at Rishikesh is about five times its flux at Rajshahi (Bangladesh) and a few other major global rivers, such as the Amazon, indicating higher erosion rate over the Himalaya. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of creep settlement of pile groups in linear viscoelastic soil

This paper presents the analysis of creep settlement of pile groups for line pile groups, square pile groups, and rectangular pile groups undergoing creep settlements over a period of time. The soil is treated as a viscoelastic material and is modeled using a three-parameter viscoelastic model. The damping component (dashpot) takes care of the permanent time-dependent deformations in three-parameter viscoelastic model. An approach suggested by Mindlin has been employed to calculate the stress distribution along the pile length in a group. The viscoelastic problem is converted into an elastic problem by the application of Laplace transform. Results in the form of variation of interaction factors for parameters such as pile length to diameter ratio, pile spacing, Poisson's ratio, and modulus ratio have been presented. Comparison has been made between interaction factors for piles groups undergoing immediate settlements and creep settlements. Finally, a typical predictive example has been presented for a 3 × 3 pile group showing creep settlement. The load rearrangement due to creep settlements causes about 5% to 35% increase in base resistance over time. Interaction factors for pile groups (2 × 1, 3 × 1, 2 × 2, and 3 × 2) undergoing creep settlement is about 15% to 55% higher than the interaction factors considering only the immediate settlements for pile group spacing less than or equal to 5d.     

Numerical evaluation of seismic response of soft-story RC frames retrofitted with passive devices

This study presents a nonlinear modelling technique for reinforced concrete (RC) frames retrofitted with metallic yielding devices to predict the seismic response using a computer software OpenSees. The numerical model considers the axial–flexure interaction, shear force–displacement response and the bond-slip characteristics of the frame members. The predicted hysteretic response has been compared with the results of slow-cyclic testing. The validated numerical model is then used to predict the seismic response of a five-story RC frame with soft-story. Nonlinear cyclic pushover and dynamic analyses are conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed retrofitting scheme in enhancing the lateral strength and energy dissipation potential and in controlling the premature failure of the study frame. Analysis results showed significant improvement in the seismic response of RC frames with soft-story using the proposed retrofitting technique.     

Superposed folding in the Honakere arm of the Chitradurga-Karighatta schist belt in the Dharwar tectonic province,southern India,and its bearing on the Sargur-Dharwar relation

The supracrustal enclave within the Peninsular Gneiss in the Honakere arm of the Chitradurga-Karighatta belt comprises tremolite-chlorite schists within which occur two bands of quartzite coalescing east of Jakkanahalli(12°39′N; 76°41′E), with an amphibolite band in the core. Very tight to isoclinal mesoscopic folds on compositional bands cut across in the hinge zones by an axial planar schistosity, and the nearly orthogonal relation between compositional bands and this schistosity at the termination of the tremolite-chlorite schist band near Javanahalli, points to the presence of a hinge of a large-scale, isoclinal early fold (F₁). That the map pattern, with an NNE-plunging upright antiform and a complementary synform of macroscopic scale, traces folds 'er generation (F ₂),is proved by the varying attitude of both compositional bands (S₀) and axial pranar schistosity (S ₁), which are effectively parallel in a major part of the area. A crenulation cleavage (S ₂) has developed parallel to the axial planes of theF ₂ folds at places. TheF ₂ folds range usually from open to rarely isoclinal style, with theF ₁ andF ₂ axes nearly parallel. Evidence of type 3 fold interference is also provided by the map pattern of a quartzite band in the Borikoppalu area to the north, coupled with younging directions from current bedding andS ₀ -S ₁ inter-relation. Although statistically theF ₁ andF ₂ linear structures have the same orientation, detailed studies of outcrops and hand specimens indicate that the two may make as high an angle as 90°. Usually, in these instances, theF ₁ lineations are unreliable around theF ₂ axes, implying that theF ₂ folding was by flexural slip. In zones with very tight to almost isoclinalF ₂ folding, however, buckling attendant with flattening has caused a spread of theF ₁ lineations almost in a plane. Initial divergence in orientation of theF ₁ lineations due to extreme flattening duringF ₁ folding has also resulted in a variation in the angle between theF ₁ andF ₂lineations in some instances. Upright later folding (F₃) with nearly E-W strike of axial planes has led to warps on schistosity, plunge reversals of theF ₁ andF ₂ axes, and increase in the angle between theF ₁ andF ₂ lineations at some places. Large-scale mapping in the Borikoppalu sector, where the supposed Sargur rocks with ENE ‘trend’ abut against the N-‘trending’ rocks of the Dharwar Supergroup, shows a continuity of rock formations and structures across the hinge of a large-scaleF ₂ fold. This observation renders the notion, that there is an angular unconformity here between the rocks of the Sargur Group and the Dharwar Supergroup, untenable.